Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici represents the First Congressional District of Oregon, which includes Washington, Yamhill, Clatsop, and Columbia counties and part of Multnomah County.
Strengthening public education is one of Suzanne's top priorities and one of the reasons she got involved in public service. Suzanne spent hundreds of hours volunteering in public schools before serving in the Oregon State Legislature, where she passed legislation to reduce duplicative testing. In Congress, she is a leader on the Education and Labor Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services.
International trade agreements done right have the potential to create quality, high-paying jobs, and expand exports to help Oregon businesses innovate and grow. Around the world, Oregon’s berries, wine, hazelnuts, semiconductors, sportswear, and other quality products are in high demand. Thousands of small businesses already sell products overseas, and carefully crafted trade agreements would allow them to expand their customer base and hire more workers here in Oregon.
To earn my support, any trade agreement must be good for Oregonians. It must include strong labor and environmental protections, and must also contain rigorous enforcement provisions. The jobs we gain by expanding exports tend to pay high wages, but the globalized economy can put some American workers at risk of being displaced as our economy continues to grow and evolve. We must find ways to reinvigorate those communities and restore jobs to people who have been hurt by globalization, trade, and increased mechanization.